Getting on

Thank you all so much for your kind messages and emails, the support and lovely comments are very much appreciated. We read them all and are comforted by their heartfelt words and it just confirms that my blogging friends are wonderful.

I have been resting and taking it easy, in fact have been in bed by 8pm every night for the past week. During the day I have been keeping Philip and Fern company ( for overseas readers - they host a lightweight daytime show over here) doing a bit of sewing and lots of reading. My sewing machine tension developed a mind of it's own so lots of frustration was heaped upon it, quite cathartic really even if the air was blue! Some foul language, cursing and foot stamping later I tightened the tiny screw that was hardly visible to the naked eye which seems to have worked.

I have been making some BIG doorstops, as usual with recycled fabrics, but with 2kg of rice in each one so they are up to holding open the heaviest of doors or ones with self closers on.

I have been rereading some of my favourites from childhood, so far Little Women and Good Wives, Swallows and Amazons, The Secret Garden and am just about to start on What Katie Did. Which were your favourites to read under the covers by torch light? I tried the children's section on the library but found it to be sadly lacking in nostalgic inspiration, just lots of Tracey Beaker etc which I'm sure children enjoy but didn't fit the bill for my wander down memory lane.

Hope your weekend is sunny and peaceful, thanks again everyone. xx 

Comments

[Fiona(Nonnie)]

So happy to see your post today and to hear that you're doing ok. It will get easier I promise. x Looks like you've had a lovely creative surge though which is great. Those doorstops are beautiful. Are they for sale because we currently have a very ugly box keeping our spareroom door from slamming shut in the breeze from the open window.
Phil and Fern are always good company I find! As for the reading, I'm just like you and always turn to a bit of nostalgia when I'm in need of comfort. Swallows and Amazons is one of my favs and I've recently been reading some of the others in the series as my Dad had the whole set. 'Swallowdale' is a particularly nice one and I think is the immediate follow up to Swallows and Amazons. 'The Railway Children' is also another comfort read, as is watching the film although it has to be the old film not the re-make.
Keep looking after yourself and eating that chocolate. xxx

[KarenV]

I've been reading your blog for a while, but don't think I've commented before. I'm sorry about your sad news of the previous post but glad to hear that you're doing OK.

I loved Little Women and What Katie Did but one of my favourite books when I was younger was Anne of Green Gables (and the sequels) - in fact, I ought to try and dig it out again to reread over the summer. I remember having a whole series of hardback children's classics, of which Little Women was one; Heidi was another, also Treasure Island. I was also a fan of school stories, particularly the Chalet School and Antonia Forest's "Kingscote" books and reread them whenever I want a nostalgia fix ;)

[julia]

Glad to hear you've been taking it easy. The doorstops are lovely, great idea to use the old embroideries on them.
I agree with the whole children's library thing, it is really hard to find the old favourites there. My favourites when I was very young were the "Malory Towers" series by good old Enid Blyton, I read them so many times and each time was sad when I'd finished them.
Have a lovely weekend
Julia x

[kim]

It's so good to hear things are a little easier for you this week. There's nothing better than returning to a fav children's book is there? I loved the Enid Blyton books, Heidi, Little Women, The Railway Children - anything I could get my hands on I devoured when I was younger. Take care, have a good weekend
Kimx

[julia]

Glad you are feeling well enough to post again. Lovely doorstops!

[Helen]

Good to hear that you're resting up and taking things quietly. You've chosen some lovely reading there! I loved all those books as a child, and would add to my favourites list The Faraway Tree books, Anne of Green Gables and The Hounds of the Morrigan - I must have read all these dozens of times each!

[Kathleen]

A great choice of books there! I loved 'My Naughty Little Sister', 'Ramona the Pest', and 'The Railway Children'. My husband has rekindled my love of good old fashioned ladybird books - I keep meaning to blog about them. He also read me a book called 'The Children who Lived in a Barn' which I can highly recommend. I guess it's from the same era and ilk as Ransome. Speaking of which, I particularly liked 'We didn't mean to go to sea' I loved that they found a kitten in the middle of the channel - how random! And then they get to a harbour in France or Holland and then they bump into their Dad! As if!

[Lesley]

I'm so pleased to hear you're up to blogging and some rather gorgeous sewing again, Jo.
Those books are all favourites of mine too - although I don't think I've read Swallow and Amazons. May have to remedy that very soon! I agree about the library - ours has all the latest Horrid Henry's etc but few classic children's books.
My favourites also include Little House on the Prairie, Pippi Longstocking and Mrs Pepperpot :)

Take care xxxxxxx

[lina]

Oh I do miss a bit of light weight UK TV! I recently reread Anne of Green Gables and the Secret Garden which lifted my spirits when I was feeling blue this winter. I also love reading my old books to my daughter - she especially likes the Faraway Tree stories and Milly Molly Mandy of all things!

[Sal]

The doorstops are great!
All the books you mention plus many Enid Blyton,Angela Brazil plus other school stories,which I loved!!;-)

[Tracy]

Reading childhood books...that is always good comfort! :o) So glad you are keeping going and finding renewal, rejuvenation and delight in ordinary-extraordinary things. Thinking of you and sending ((HUGS))

[sarah]

it's one of those comments where I don't know what I can say but want to say something...in fact i'm gonna give up on the words and *hug* you instead.
xxx

[trashalou]

Glad to hear you are treating yourself well. Up here at Trash Towers we have just started reading aloud the Little House on the Prairie series, both Princess Curly-Wurly and Babyman are enjoying it thoroughly.

I loved the Heidi series, so much so that I ended up living in Switzerland for a while. The books were better!!

Loved the Famous Five and Six Cousins books by End Blyton. If you are wnting to experience foreign culture children's literature may I suggest the Silver Brumby series? Although you might have to like horses to get the best from them......

[periwinkle]

Glad to see you back :-). Lovely door stops too. I read so much when i was little and know exactly what you mean about kids sections in the library - no classics! I read the kids from dead end street the other week and Milly Molly Mandy, Enid Blyton just goes without saying.
lisa x

[Sarah]

So pleased you're feeling a little better and thanks also for your comment on my blog today.

My favs to read when I was younger were Mallory Towers (was that Enid Blyton?) and I was also reminded of Milly Molly Mandy just this week after seeing it on a friend's daughters' bookcase !

I think I might have to pay Amazon a visit and see if I can purchase them for myself to read (once again !!)

Take care
Sarah x

[Elizabeth]

Glad to hear you are feeling a bit better, and the doorstops look wonderful. As a child I was pretty much addicted to Enid Blyton, my absolute favourites of hers were The Famous Five and The Mallory Towers series.

[Tillyboo]

I am glad you have been taking things easy, it'll take time so don't rush.
Must be the week for doorstops, yours are really lovely and summery. There must be an easier option for filling ? The amount of rice I have used would feed us for a week I reckon.
Take care ! Philip & Fern are a real tonic aren't they ...
x

[Dyan]

Glad to hear you're feeling better. A gentle stroll down memory lane is always soothing, especially curled up under the sheet with a flashlight.The door stops are cute, I should actually try making some my doors here. Sometimes machines have their days but it does make you just want to steam doesn't it? It's always something small too - like you said, a nearly invisible screw.
Have a lovely Sunday,
Dy

[Ali]

Nostalgic reading sounds just the ticket. Pippi Longstocking, The Little Wooden Horse, Gobbolino the Witches Cat and Paddington (it is his 50th birthday after all).

[sarah]

I'm so sorry to read your heart-wrenching news.
I'm glad you're taking it easy, Phil and Fern are a mind-numbing but good-natured, sweet balm.
I'm also re-reading Little Women and what a joy it is!
I'm sending you a virtual hug and the very warmest, most heart-felt wishes.

[joanna]

I use Philip and Fern to keep me comapny on the bad days! more ((((hugs))))